Is Marshall McLuhan’s work important to the study of popular culture?

Answer Two Essay Questions (30 points; 15 points per essay)
Choose TWO (2) of the following questions and write each answer in the form of a 3-5 page essay (double-spaced). Higher marks will be given to essays that i) address all parts of the question ii) make appropriate use of sociological terms, concepts, theories and thinkers and iii) present your own viewpoint based on the evidence and examples drawn from course readings and other class sources. Please indicate, by number, which questions you are answering.

/2 = originality /3 = structure and clarity /10 = content (as outlined above)

1. Is Marshall McLuhan’s work important to the study of popular culture? Why or why not? Be sure to explain concepts of the Global Village, Hot and Cool Media and The Medium is the Message. Connect at least one of these concepts to examples of popular culture. Include details from the Fishman and the Vassiliou articles in your answer.
2. Explain why it is important to consider gender in the study of popular culture. Discuss the challenges that women face in achieving equality of opportunity, and equality of treatment with regard both to technology and advertising. Ensure that you include details from the Royal and Arendt articles.
3. According to the articles by Bruce Drushel and David Greven, have the various Star Trek TV series provided adequate representation of queer characters? Give evidence to support your answer. What does your response conclude about the ways in which the culture industries have considered LBGTQ audiences? Is this important? Why or why not?
4. What is an “anti-heroine?” Give examples. Is the anti-heroine important in a pop-cultural context? Why or why not? Be sure to discuss Netflix in relation to the anti-heroine.
5. In what ways can social movements be said to be important in the study of popular culture? We have looked at this in a number of contexts this semester. Describe and discuss two such social movements. Have the culture industries been involved in these pop-culture expressions of social movements? Explain this relationship. Is this important? Why or why not?
6. We have examined religion in connection with certain pop-cultural contexts this semester. Outline two of these contexts and explain how the study of religion can provide insights into the pop-culture that frames important parts of our lives. Be sure to include references to articles on the course syllabus.
Please include in-text references (APA) for any authors you use. Please also include a separate references page (APA).
Your essay must include a thesis statement—what are you arguing? The best essays will make use of one or more of the articles from the syllabus. The best use of these articles will include a summary of the author’s main points and a clear indication of the ways in which you will use them to support your argument. Essays that make neither an argument nor a reference to assigned articles will receive poor grades. Please consider these points as you craft your essays, but also think about how to make an original statement—what does your chosen topic mean to you?

the files provided are for question 4

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